Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-08-22
The Neighborhood of Niagara Falls.

While hundreds Of tourists visit
Niagara Falls every season, not one
in Il thousand actually sees the river.
But with the "freeing OF Niagara,
celebrated by New York and Canada
July Il, 1885, the river experienced
q new birth. Hereafter, in the true
spirit of this international bond, the
traveller, having enjoyed restored na-
ture at the points comprised within
the limits of the International Park
Survey. may explore the Niagara riv-
er to where, actually freed from its
high. PERCEPTIONS mural boundaries,
it pOurs the waters of our upper in
land seas into the broad Ontario.
Here eliminates the historic interest
of the Niagara frontier. As at the
Whirlpool modern rock-readings tell
US 70 seek a clew TO its geological
past For Of few other rivers may it
be said that they have a threefold
charm. appealing alike to artist, his
torian and man Of science.
True lovers OF Niagara hope that
the day Is not far distant when the
international Park will consist Of not
merely a mile strip on the American
bank. but a grand double boulevard,
running from Buffalo to Youngstown,
and on the Canadian cliffs from the
Horseshoe Falls to Queenston. As
site for country villas. Lewiston Ridge,
with the unnumbered beautiful drives
in its neighborhood and its pictur-
esque historical associations. must.
as the cities of western New York
grow in wealth and population, be-
come not less famous than the cliffs
Of Newport.
Below the cataract, the Niagara.
although comparatively few tourists
discover this fact. has a beauty and
grandeur no less imposing than the
falls themselves. Not content with
its mighty plunge of l65 feet, the
river goes surging and tossing down.
ward another 1O4 feet in its rocky
bed over the obIiterated falls of
preglacial stream, the remains of a
third cataract being still perceptible
in the Whirlpool Rapids. At the
Whirlpool the river untwists itself
like some mighty serpent from its sim
uous contortions in this concave pris-
on. to pour itself an emerald-green
wave into a channel at right angles
with its former course, and hence
forth tends northeast with many a
gentle curve.
Not until we reach Lewiston Ridge
do we turn our backs on the Niagara
stupendous exhibition Of power.
From this height. described by Father
Charlevois as "a frightful mountain
which hides itself in clouds on which
the Titans might attempt TO scale the
heavens. is a view worthy the ex-
pansiye canvas Of a Bierstadt. The
tableland terminates abruptly in an
escarpment. Beneath stretch bound
less meadowlands as rich as any in
agricultural England. They slope
gently To the river. which, coming
headlong down the gorge, with the
leap and roar Of the Whirlpool upon
it, gradually subsidies into a tranquil
stream as the bold outlines OF the
banks above Lewiston fall away INTO
broad, smiling plains. Across the
gorge Is the Bunker Hill Of Canada.
crowned by its lofty shaft. Few
monuments in the world have 50 i'm
posing an effect in the landscape a
the lonely form Of Brock towering in
the blue clouds far above the heights
Of Queenston.
Nesting under the shadow Of her
mountain is Lewiston, 90 named in
1sOj for Governor Morgan Lewis. Of
New York. At the extreme north,
beyond the village Of Youngstown,
and commanding the angle at the
headland Of river and lake, We descry
the white ramparts Of Fort Niagara,
whence the gallant Pouchot, begirt
with enemies, looked out in l7js,
vainly attempting To discover moving
among the trees the battalions Of his
allies from the Detroit River. IA
actly opposite Fort Niagara lies .'fair
Newark, once gay, rich and beauti-
full" presenting To the waters edge
her ancient front Of crumbling for
tresses and gray church towers
HaTper's Hag0zine.